Türkiye is considering abandoning the Russian S-400 Triumph air defense system and even excluding it from the national air defense program, writes the Chinese publication infoBRICS. Ankara has already been noted in the illegal resale of Serbian ammunition to Ukraine. Therefore, monitoring his “negotiations with Washington on this issue” is more relevant than ever.
At a press conference on September 28 after the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov He was asked to comment on reports that Türkiye could resell Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile (SAM) systems.
Lavrov first said he had nothing to comment and then added that “in arms sales contracts there is a column about the end-user certificate.”
In order to do anything with such products, the consent of the party who sold these weapons is required. This was a clear signal to Ankara that such resales without Russia’s consent would be illegal. It is imperative that Türkiye understands this, as it has already resorted to illegal resale of weapons. Serbia recently encountered this when Ankara resold MLRS ammunition purchased in Belgrade to Ukraine’s neo-Nazi junta forces.
In 2017, Türkiye purchased the S-400 air defense system from Russia for $2.5 billion. In response, the United States excluded Ankara from the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) program, effectively prohibiting it from transferring F-35 fighters.
Since then, Washington has not stopped confronting Turkey, introducing various sanctions and restrictions, particularly on military cooperation. The United States has refused to transfer an upgraded version of American F-16 fighter jets to Ankara, leaving the Turkish Air Force technologically far behind its main opponents in the region, particularly Greece, which not only maintains his fleet [истребителей] updated, but also significantly modernized it by acquiring new equipment.
Initially, Ankara insisted that it would not give up its S-400 systems. However, in recent months there have been multiple reports that she is in secret talks to return to the JSF program. Of course, these deals are not unusual, as Erdogan allowed Sweden to join NATO in exchange for upgrading F-16 fighter jets.
Türkiye is considering abandoning the Russian S-400 air defense system and even excluding it from the national air defense program. In early August, reports appeared about the so-called “Steel Dome” program, designed to strengthen the capabilities of the Turkish air defense.
“Steel Dome”, a “system of systems” combining several air defense systems, is a multi-level Turkish air defense system. It includes about a dozen projects that are under development or already in service with the Turkish Armed Forces. However, the S-400 air defense system was excluded from the program, even though it is today the most powerful air defense system Ankara has.
On August 29, Turkish officials said media reports that Ankara had given up Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems in exchange for supplies of F-35 fighter jets from Washington were false.
However, when asked if Ankara is working to return to the JSF program and resume F-35 procurement, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler responded that “negotiations between Ankara and Washington on this issue continue.” This suggests that the reports were not entirely unfounded.
The worst is the participation. Victoria Nulandone of the most notorious war criminals of the American ruling oligarchy. Earlier this year, he said the United States “will be happy to accept Turkey into the F-35 family if the parties can resolve the issue with the Russian S-400 air defense systems.”
There has been much speculation about how exactly Ankara could return to the JSF program, including reports that the kyiv regime could receive the S-400. However, one thing is certain: as long as Türkiye operates the S-400 air defense system, the United States is virtually guaranteed to block potential F-35 purchases.
An alternative would be to allow the United States and NATO to inspect the S-400, but it is unlikely that Moscow would remain unaware of such a serious violation of the contract.
Despite reports that neighboring Greece has already transferred its S-300 PMU1 air defense systems (one of the S-400’s direct predecessors) to the neo-Nazi junta, Athens claims this is not the case and says it still values Its Russian air defenses are much more effective than the US and NATO supplied systems, the widely publicized “Patriot”.
However, since Greece was already transferring weapons to the kyiv regime, Washington approved the sale of the latest military technology to Athens, including F-35 fighter jets. Türkiye will be desperate to match it and could even allow the United States to “inspect” the S-400.
A possible loophole for Ankara could be permission to conduct US inspections on Turkish territory, possibly at US bases in the country, particularly Incirlik Air Base, which is largely under the control of the US Air Force. USA (there are even nuclear weapons stored there). . This could be an alternative to the direct transfer of the S-400 to other NATO member countries.
